Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Saturday visited Bihar’s Raghopur, the stronghold of the RJD and the incumbent seat of Bihar Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, and accused the Nitish Kumar-led government of distributing Rs 10,000 to women as “an official bribe” to secure votes. He also said “nothing will change for the people” if they don't change their voting pattern. “Whether Tejashwi comes or Prashant Kishor comes, your life won’t improve. Even if Prashant Kishor comes to power, nothing will change,” he said, adding, “Real change will only happen when you change how you vote — when you vote for your children’s education, for employment, and against the floods and erosion that plague your life.” “People say erosion is a big issue, but the next day, they vote for Rs 500. How will erosion get fixed like this? If you don’t vote for your child’s education, for employment, for development, then how can change come?” he asked. Kishor claimed that while the children of Raghopur remain stuck in the same miserable conditions over years, their elected candidates and their children became rulers. “Raghopur doesn’t elect a legislator, it elects a king. For the last 30 years, people here have been choosing Bihar’s rulers. And yet, the same misgovernance and backwardness remain. Children of Raghopur still live in the same condition they did 30 or 40 years ago,” he said. Kishor claimed the issues of floods, erosion, waterlogging, the absence of colleges and schools in Raghopur have remained unchanged for decades. “These are not new problems. And if even after facing all this, you still vote for the same leaders responsible for this mess, then be prepared to continue living in such suffering,” he said. Laying out the electoral choices for voters, he said, “If you bring back Nitish Kumar and BJP, the corruption you see today will continue — a government where Nitish Kumar is almost absent and those around him are looting Bihar.” “And if you vote for Lalu Yadav’s Mahagathbandhan, then murder, loot, kidnapping, and lawlessness will return. If that happens, don’t complain,” he warned. Kishor pointed out that while people’s votes are their own decision, he warned them to “be ready for the consequences”. “You’ve seen what Nitish Kumar’s government means. You’ve seen what Lalu Yadav’s rule was like. Now try something new for once — not for me, but for yourself and your children,” he said. Offering Jan Suraaj as a third option, Kishor said, “If you want a new system, if you want employment and education for your children, if you want to end floods, bribes and backwardness, then try Jan Suraaj. If you try, it will work in your favour. If not, things will continue as they are.” Referring to recent increases in welfare payouts, Kishor claimed these were electorally motivated. “The old-age pension didn’t rise by even Rs 10 in twenty years, it stayed at Rs 400. Nitish Kumar has been CM, Tejashwi Yadav was also Deputy CM for three of those years. Now, how has it suddenly jumped to Rs 1,100. It’s because people now have an option. Jan Suraaj hasn’t even won a single seat, but just the fear of competition has made the government act.” Listing other examples of honorarium hikes for ASHA and Anganwadi workers, better salaries for cooks, money to “vikas mitra” for buying tablets, and the Rs 10,000 disbursed to Jeevika members, Kishor said, “These are the same ASHA, Jeevika, and Anganwadi workers who were beaten on Patna’s streets. Now suddenly, the government is increasing their salaries and giving them money.” The Jan Suraaj founder alleged, “This Rs 10,000 is an officially declared bribe. They are giving it and saying, ‘vote for us’. It is an official bribe.” Kishor added, “Take the money — I’ve said that at every Jan Suraaj rally — but understand that your life won’t improve with Rs 10,000. Real change will come only with jobs and education for your children.” He warned the people if they “sell their vote for Rs 10,000”, they maybe asked to pay an even bigger bribe for government services in the future. “I am not here to defeat anyone. Jan Suraaj’s fight is not to win or defeat leaders, neither do I have any personal enmity with anyone. We just want to ensure the people and children of Bihar win. Leaders will win or lose, it doesn’t matter,” Kishor said.
